11. Will the IOL
degenerate with time? Does it need to be
replaced?No, the intraocular lens will remain
unaltered in the eye and does not react with body tissue nor does it
disintegrate.
12. I have cataracts in both my eyes.
Can both of my eyes be operated upon on the same day to save on post-operative
recovery time?It is always better to undergo
surgery in both eyes in 2 separate sittings. This is to ensure that any
inadvertent infection does not affect both eyes simultaneously. A gap of 1-2
days between the surgeries of the two eyes is acceptable, provided there are no
complications in the first eye.
13. My doctor says I
need cataract surgery. However I have been having short-sight since childhood.
Can this be corrected too?Yes. Most pre-existing
refractive errors are taken care of by taking certain measurements before the
surgery and adjusting the power of the intraocular lens that is to be placed in
the eye.
14. Is laser cataract surgery done without
making an incision in the eye?No. The eye is still
opened, as the laser takes care of only some steps of the surgery. Moreover, an
opening is mandatory to remove the cataractous lens and to implant the
intraocular lens.
15. I have undergone cataract
surgery. Can I still donate my eyes after
death?Yes, you can. As long as the cornea is clear
and healthy, it can be used for corneal
transplantation.
16. Do cataracts move in the
eye?Cataracts do not normally move in the eye.
However, if the zonules (the fibers that anchor the lens in place) are weakened
or disrupted either due to injury or hypermaturity of the lens or some other
disease condition, then the lens may be partially or completely
displaced.
17. If I undergo cataract surgery in one
eye, do I have to undergo surgery in the other eye
also?No. You will require surgery only if you have
a vision disabling cataract in the other eye.
18. Do
I have to get admitted for cataract surgery?Not in
most cases. You can go to the hospital on the morning of the surgery, and go
home soon after the procedure is over. However, if you have some medical
conditions that need monitoring then you may have to be admitted for a day or
two either before or after the surgery.
19. What is
an after cataract? Can I have a recurrence of cataract after
surgery?Cataract cannot recur after surgery.
However you may develop an after cataract (or PCO – posterior capsule
opacification) which is a clouding of the posterior capsule of the lens (which
is left behind during the surgery so that it acts as scaffolding for placement
of the intraocular lens). When this happens, vision becomes poor after a couple
of weeks to months of good vision. An after cataract can be treated by a simple
laser procedure known as YAG laser capsulotomy, wherein an Nd:YAG (Neodymium:
Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) laser is used to make an opening in the
posterior capsule thus making the visual axis clear again. This procedure takes
just a couple of minutes and is entirely
painless.
20. I am taking tamsulosin for prostate
enlargement. Will there be a problem during
surgery?Tamsulosin is known to cause a problem
known as IFIS (intraoperative floppy iris syndrome) in cataract surgery. Discuss
this with your eye doctor, so that he may recommend a non-selective
alpha-blocker such as doxazosin or alfuzosin as a replacement for a short period
of time.